Is this a good grade for the SAT’s? How can I improve?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

In 8th grade I took the PSATs and on Tuesday I’ll be taking the SATs for Freshmen Year. Just recently I looked at my scores from 8th grade, and I don’t know if I did well or not because there isn’t an average for everyone or anything. So I got:

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 470

Math: 420

Total: 890

Is this good for an 8th grader?

Also, how can I improve from that?

2

I believe there is information on the College board website someplace giving the %iles for scores of 8th, 9th and 10th graders. I believe that score is high for someone so young.

3

Is there a special reason you will be taking the SAT so soon? I am not sure how high you are aiming in terms of eventual colleges, but understand that if you take the test now, whatever you score will stay with you. Some colleges superscore, others ask to see all scores. That is more likely at very selective colleges, where the 75th percentile scores will be above 1500. So in 8th grade, you got 890. Maybe now you will get 1200 if you are lucky, but that’s still a long way from 1500.

Colleges won’t care about tests you take before high school, but once you are in high school, they care. You may well be required to submit scores from a test you take as a freshman.

By all means, take the test if you like. Personally, unless you NEED to take it now, I would hold off. You can get two more years of education under your belt, which will only help you improve.

4

My apologies, I just realized Freshmen also take the PSATs (which is mandatory for my school) and only Seniors take the actual SATs. That was my mistake, so sorry for the confusion.

5

Not really, …but I would not expect an 8th grader to have a better score.

How to improve? Read Read Read.
Take the most challenging math you can.

6

If your school makes you take the PSAT as a freshman, it is not going to count until junior year, in terms of the National Merit Scholarship qualification. Seems odd that your school only lets seniors take the SAT. Many students want to be done with testing by the end of junior year, especially those who are recruited athletes or who want to apply ED to a college.

7

I believe my daughter took the SAT under the Duke TIP program and got a 1790 in the 2400 scale. We just treated it as an experience. I didn’t think colleges cared for that score.